How to Clean a Jetted Tub and What Comes Out First

Choose the method before filling

Before you pour anything into that newly filled tub, we'd check its cleaning instructions because cleaner compatibility and air-control settings differ. Some tubs need their air controls closed during cleaning, while others need them open.

Water jets move water through the system, while air jets release bubbles into the bath. Empava offers tubs with either system or both, so identify which system you're cleaning before choosing the corresponding routine.

If you don't have the manual, look online for the instructions for your particular tub. Check its cleanser recommendations and air-control setting before using a recipe intended for another product.

What came out first in one cleaning run

Simply Organized's author saw small black flakes within the first couple of minutes of one whirlpool cleaning run. By ten minutes, the water contained pieces ranging from tiny to large.

That observation describes one tub, not a universal discharge sequence or a way to identify the material in yours. Cleaning moves hidden residue out of the system, and draining carries the loosened material away.

Soap scum and body oils can collect inside the plumbing, where wiping the basin won't reach them. That's why the job has two parts: circulating cleaner through the system and cleaning the exposed surfaces afterward.

Cleaner choices depend on the tub

For a Diamond tub, use only its recommended cleaning materials and methods. Diamond warns that alternatives can damage the tub or system and void the warranty, so keep the recipe and cycle together.

Simply Organized's author favored bleach cleaning perhaps once a year or less, citing concern about drying out pipe fittings, and preferred liquid dishwasher detergent because powder might harm finishes such as brass. Those are the author's compatibility concerns, distinct from Kohler's recommendation of low-foam powdered dish detergent and its walk-in bath recipe that includes household bleach.

Use your particular tub's approved ingredients and amounts. Where a water-jet recipe specifies low-foaming detergent, keep that requirement: a sudsy substitute can produce excessive bubbles as the jets run.

Diamond whirlpool cleaning cycle

On a Diamond whirlpool, leave the suction strainer fitting installed, keep foreign objects out of the openings and use only manufacturer-recommended attachments. Never run the pump dry, and reach the required water level before switching it on.

The powered system requires GFCI circuit protection, and that protective device needs routine testing to confirm it works. Children must have adult supervision when using the tub.

A Standard Diamond whirlpool has an air-operated on/off button and an air-control knob. Some Diamond configurations have two air controls, including Deluxe systems, so account for both when shutting off air for cleaning.

Diamond describes a general ten-minute automatic timer, while the Deluxe micro on/off button has a twenty-minute timer. Keep track of the cleaning time yourself: the prescribed run is about ten minutes, and pressing the on/off button again stops it.

1. Fill with hot water until the level reaches 3 inches above the highest jet.
2. Into that water, add 4 to 6 tablespoons of low-foaming detergent, such as liquid Cascade or Calgonite, and 24 to 30 ounces of liquid household bleach. Turn every air control completely off.
3. Run the whirlpool for about 10 minutes, then stop it and let all the water drain out.
4. Refill with cold water only, reaching the required operating level before restarting. Run for about 10 minutes, then stop and drain until the tub is empty.

Empava water-jet cleaning cycle

For an Empava water-jet tub, hot water helps loosen deposits while the jets carry cleaner through the pipes. This cycle uses a different dose and rinse temperature from the Diamond routine.

1. Add hot water until the highest jet is covered by at least 2 inches of water, giving the solution enough depth to circulate through the system.
2. Measure 2 tablespoons of low-foaming detergent or dish soap into the filled tub, along with half a cup of either white vinegar or bleach. Keep to the single addition you chose.
3. Switch the jets to full power and let them circulate the solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Stop them, then drain completely so the loosened debris leaves with the cleaning water.
4. Fill again with fresh hot water and run the jets for 10 minutes. Stop and drain, leaving the basin empty for wiping.

Keep that second fill in the routine even when the first drain has carried away the visible debris. Cleaner can remain in the system, and the fresh-water run carries it out before it can affect the jets or irritate your skin during the next bath.

KOHLER walk-in bath cleaning cycle

For a KOHLER walk-in bath, close the air controls by turning the adjustable jets clockwise. Keeping air from entering during cleaning helps the solution circulate effectively.

Fill with warm water to at least 2 inches above the highest jets. Add the cleaning solution approved for your tub, then leave it to soak for a few minutes so it can begin loosening buildup.

Run the whirlpool for 5 to 10 minutes, then stop it and drain completely. Refill with clean, warm water and run the jets again for a few minutes to carry remaining cleaner out of the system.

Keep this clockwise adjustment tied to the KOHLER procedure. For another tub, use its own air-control instructions, including an open setting when that's what its manufacturer specifies.

Empava air jets need a gentler cycle

For an Empava air-jet tub, choose warm water instead of the hot fill used for its water-jet cycle. The lower temperature protects delicate parts of the air system; fill until every air jet is below the waterline.

Keep the cleaning mixture mild: use a little gentle dish soap or a cleaner made for air-jet tubs. Leave harsh chemicals out, because the air channels and internal parts can be damaged by them.

Switch on the air jets for 10 to 15 minutes to work the solution through the system and loosen oils and soap residue. Stop the jets and empty the tub completely, taking the soapy water out before the rinse.

For the rinse, give the tub a fresh fill of warm water and run the air jets for five minutes. This separate run washes out cleaner and residue that draining alone can leave behind.

Drain once more, then use a soft, dry cloth over the tub and jets to pick up remaining moisture. Drying helps limit mineral buildup and keeps the air channels clear.

Clean the basin and exposed jet openings

After the water-jet rinse has drained, go over the basin with a soft cloth and give the outside of each nozzle attention. This picks up residue still sitting on the walls and around the openings.

On Jetta acrylic, a soft cloth and a little mild dish soap diluted in warm water are the routine surface-cleaning choice. Before choosing another household cleaner, read its label and reject products that rule out acrylic or plastic.

Keep solvent-based and acidic cleaners off that acrylic. Skip abrasive cleaners as well, because they can leave scratches and damage the finish you're trying to clean.

For Diamond fiberglass, choose a liquid detergent recommended for fiberglass and use it with warm water. Avoid abrasive cleaners, sandpaper, steel wool and metal scrapers, which can scratch or dull the surface.

Set the next cleaning date and limit residue

Set a Diamond whirlpool's next internal cleaning for at least monthly, with more frequent cleaning as use requires. Jetta also recommends monthly line cleaning to deal with accumulating bath-product residue and body oils.

Kohler's recommendations are inconsistent: its general advice includes twice monthly and at least twice monthly, but also calls for a weekly routine. Its walk-in bath advice gives about twice monthly, increasing with daily use, so use your particular tub's care instructions to set the interval.

For Kohler tubs, avoid bath bombs, oils and bubble bath because they can collect inside the jets and lead to black flecks. For Jetta tubs, use clean, clear water or permitted water-soluble products, keeping bathing salts and oils out because they can cause corrosion.

Simply Organized's author advises leaving jets off when bath additives are in the water, because running the jets draws those products into the piping. That advice concerns bathing products, separate from the cleaning solutions used during the tub's approved cleaning cycle.

On Diamond whirlpools, oils, bubble bath, water conditioners and other additives can increase residue, so their use calls for more frequent purging. Discontinue those products if excessive buildup persists. Diamond warns that neglected maintenance can cause health or safety issues, damage the tub and system, including the pump, and void warranties.

After using a Diamond tub, remove any rubber or plastic anti-skid mat to protect the finish from harm or discoloration. Wipe the tub after each bath or shower to help limit hard-water discoloration.